Base of Operations: Currently unknown;
formerly New Timbetpal, the floating city of the Sons of
Yinsen;
formerly an unidentified church;
formerly a base beneath the tomb of Amenhotep III, Al-Luxor,
Egypt

First Appearance: Avengers: The Ultron Imperative
(November, 2001)

Powers/Abilities: Uncertain. Antigone is a synthozoid,
similar to the Vision. She has survived mass destruction, such as the collapsing
of a subterranean base or falling from a great height, but she has not
demonstrated other significant superhuman powers.

History:
(Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (fb)) - The Bio-Synthezoids were created by
Alkhema using a "Plastoid Birthmatrix" as her third attempt (after the War Toys
and Robos) to create a race of synthetic life. However, unbeknownst to her, she
was actually following programming from Ultron in building the Bio-Synthezoids.
Once created, they set about rebuilding Ultron.

(Avengers:
The Ultron Imperative) - Alkhema proudly unveiled her Bio-Synthezoids, but was
horrified to learn they had rebuilt Ultron and were under his control. Alkhema
was eventually destroyed by Hawkeye with an Antarctic Vibranium (Anti-Metal)
arrow, and she destroyed her base and detonated her creations in the process.
However, a lone Bio-Synthezoid survived, carrying the sentient head of Ultron to
the surface after the Avengers had left. Ultron began to give the Bio-Synthezoid
orders, but, possessing the form and personality of a young girl, it proceeded
to begin playing instead, kicking the head about. The Bio-Synthezoid decided it
wanted to see the world, and it took Ultron's head with it so it would have
someone to talk to. She took the name Antigone.

(Iron Man III#48 (fb)) - Antgione brought the head of Ultron
to America, where it linked up with the former sentient armor of Iron Man, posed
as the reborn Ho Yinsen, and took over the Sons of Yinsen.

(Iron Man III#46 - BTS, 47) - Antigone stuck to the sidelines
as Iron Man opposed the Sons of Yinsen, and eventually Ultron revealed his own
existence.

(Iron Man III#48) - Antigone stood by Ultron as he and the
Sons of Yinsen battled Iron Man and Sun-Tao. Iron Man downloaded the personality
of Jocasta into Ultron, and she distracted him sufficiently so that Iron Man
could drive him off. Ultron launched its head into the sky, taking Antigone with
it, and the two then plunged to the Earth from the floating city.
Antigone's body was found, presumed to be dead (they were
uncertain if she was a mutant or something else entirely), and taken to the Las
Vegas hospital. However, she awakened and departed with the head of Ultron,
claiming to have finally gotten the body she wanted after all.

Comments: Created by Kurt Busiek and Klaus Janson.

The speech balloons used by Antigone in the
final panels of Iron Man III#48 are the same balloons used for Jocasta's speech,
so presumably it was meant to indicate that Jocasta's personality had been
downloaded into and taken over Antigone. Of some interest is that in the
Killraven future seen in the pages of Avengers Forever, Jocasta has an
appearance very similar to that of an adult Antigone.
Of course, since few people feel the need to follow
continuity, Jocasta is back in her original form when seen in the pages of
Avengers III#"501."

The final story page of Avengers: The Ultron is a(n) homage to
Avengers I#58 (I think), in which a kid kicks around the head of Ultron.

In investigating Alkhema, the Avengers came across the word
Thebes, which Jarvis was able to connect to Oedipus, Ultron, Jocasta, Antigone,
and the whole "Greek Tragedy" deal on which Ultron had a fixation, via the play
"Seven Against Thebes." The Avengers then split up to check out the two Thebes,
the one that became the Greek Thival and the one that became the Egyptian Al-Luxor.